Tony Alonso
Marty Haugen
Marianist VILAC (Valley Isle Liturgy and Arts Conference) is being offered as a Lenten Retreat/Conference, with major musical talent, for the Maui Vicariate at St. Anthony Parish, Wailuku, March 20-21.
The weekend opens with a free concert at 7 p.m. on Friday evening, March 20, featuring veteran liturgical composer Marty Haugen and the younger prolific composer Tony Alonso.
Saturday’s schedule includes prayer services, workshops and the keynote address by Haugen and Alonso entitled, “(Bread)Fruit for the Life of the World: The Radical Aloha of the Gospel of John.”
Describing their talk, the speakers said that “the Gospel of John is rich with images of death and resurrection, radical servanthood and deep abiding. Through story and song, this keynote will invite reflection on the ways in which the radical aloha of the Gospel of John shapes our daily dying and rising for the life of the world.”
Other artists and presenters include noted kumu hula Sissy Lake-Farm and her hanai brother Kapono‘ai Molitau. Toni Bissen of the Pua Foundation will give a presentation with Joe Camacho, Joe Farias and Paulette Ching.
Saturday’s workshops include the following:
- “The Church and Justice for Hawaii’s Families”
- “Exciting Liturgy for Youth”
- “Hawaiian Stories Meet Scripture Stories”
- “Scripture and the Liturgy”
- “Healing Trauma (Individual, Communal and Historical Trauma)”
- “The Ensemble and Bringing It All Together”
- On Sunday, March 22, several of the artists will give a 6 p.m. concert at Sacred Hearts Parish Church on Lanai.
Haugen, who is from Eagan, Minn., has given workshops and concerts for the past 30 years across North and Central America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific Rim.
He has more than 40 recordings and 400 compositions published by GIA Publications. His more popular songs include “Shepherd Me, O God,” “Gather Us In” and “All Are Welcome.”
He wrote “Mass of Creation” for Catholics, and liturgical settings for Lutheran congregations including “Holden Evening Prayer” and “Now the Feast and Celebration.” He also composed a communion setting for the new Evangelical Worship Book.
Haugen has been an editor or consultant for a number of GIA hymnals and has been a contributor to hymnals for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and Canada, the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Mennonite Brethren, the United Church of Christ, the United Church of Canada, the Anglican Church of Canada, the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and Roman Catholic groups in Great Britain, Canada, Ireland and Australia.
Alonso is a prominent voice in contemporary liturgical music whose work reflects an understanding of the multicultural needs of the church as well as a commitment to strong ritual song. In addition to several collections of liturgical music with GIA Publications and World Library Publications, his music appears in compilations and hymnals around the world.
Alonso has shared his musical gifts and his love and knowledge of liturgy at conferences across North America and Europe and has written several books and articles on liturgy and liturgical music.
The composer holds a bachelor of music degree in choral conducting from Northwestern University and a master’s degree in theology from Loyola Marymount University. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in religion at Emory University in Atlanta, focusing on liturgical theology, ritual studies and ecclesiology.
For information and registration go to www.marianistvilac.wordpress.com, or email Art Fillazar at vilacmaui@gmail.com or call Rosie Johnson at (808) 385-8049.
